Hurricane precedes Midsummer Picnic

Fear not, while it was breezy yesterday for the mass picnic before the Midsummer Music in the Park, it was hardly hurricane strength.

A Hurricane of the flying variety was, however, spotted over Audlem late yesterday afternoon. It was probably flying to Cholmondeley for the Pageant of Power which hosts various aircraft from the RAF's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

The Hurricane is one of the classic fighters of all time. It was designed and built for war and, with the Spitfire, was at the forefront of Britain's defence in 1939/1940 and it played a major part in achieving victory in 1945.

The prototype made its maiden flight on 6th November 1935 and deliveries to the RAF commenced just before Christmas 1937. During the Battle of Britain, RAF Fighter Command fielded more Hurricanes than Spitfires, and Hurricanes achieved a similarly greater proportion of combat kills during the Battle.

A remarkable total of 14,533 Hurricanes were built and the aircraft served operationally on every day throughout hostilities, in every operational theatre and in many roles. At the end of WWII in 1945, Hurricanes were still in the front-line helping to ensure final victory in the Far East.

Our thanks to Peter Oxley who spotted the legendary aircraft.

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